A townhall-style event, “COVID-19 and the Vaccines: A Community Conversation,” organized by Denver Urban Spectrum (DUS), will be on Saturday, August 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The community event at the Struggle of Love Foundation, 12000 E. 47th Ave., Denver, is aimed at fostering a better understanding of the pros and cons of vaccination and providing insights from medical experts and your neighbors.
“You don’t know what you don’t know. You have to learn what you don’t know and an event like this makes it easier,” said Struggle of Love Co-Founder and Executive Director LaKeshia Hodge. “There’s lots I don’t know about the vaccines. I really appreciate Denver Urban Spectrum giving us the opportunity to learn, and I hope people will come and learn.”
Funded by a grant from the Rose Community Foundation, DUS is bringing together a panel of three Black doctors to answer questions and offer science-based facts and information about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, especially for communities of color. Dr. Lane Rolling is an infectious disease specialist who has worked internationally to research and develop prevention methods and treatments for viruses. Dr. Terri Richardson is an internal medicine specialist in Denver and the vice chair of the Colorado Black Health Collaborative. Dr. Johnny E. Johnson is a longtime obstetrics and gynecology physician in the Denver metropolitan area and president of the Mile High Medical Society.
Event participants will also have the opportunity to hear about the experiences and recommendations of vaccinated and unvaccinated community members, and discuss concerns, misinformation, uncertainties, and other issues about vaccinations. Plus, a complimentary lunch will be provided to all registered participants.
“We chose to hold the event at Struggle of Love because it serves the younger people who are less vaccinated and need to learn more to make an informed decision about whether to get the vaccines.”
Rosalind “Bee” Harris, Publisher, DUS
Approximately 59% of Coloradoans have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination dose, according to USAFACTS, a website that gathers and displays government data. The percentage of people of color who are vaccinated lags behind the percentage of white people. The percentage of vaccinated people under 40 is also much lower than those above 40.
“We chose to hold the event at Struggle of Love because it serves the younger people who are less vaccinated and need to learn more to make an informed decision about whether to get the vaccines,” said DUS Publisher Rosalind “Bee” Harris. “We hope community members in their 20s, 30s and 40s will be among those who join us for this important conversation.”
DUS and Struggle of Love are also arranging for a drive-through vaccination clinic for those who are interested, in collaboration with the Colorado Department of Public Health. Pfizer vaccines will be available for ages 12 and up.
Event participation is free but RSVPs are required to plan for seating and lunch. Please call 303-292-6446 or email Theresa@urbanspectrum.net. Inquiries about registering for the vaccination clinic can also be made through DUS.
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